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Brembo supplying brakes to BMW

It seems that BMW wants to join the Brembo club, so in an all-too-brief blurb, Reuters is reporting that the Bavarians will begin to equip their vehicles with Italy's famed stoppers. There's no indication about what particular models will be graced with Brembo setups, but in keeping with tradition, expect to find the telltale red calipers behind the wheels of BMW's M-modified models. We can't help but find it coincidental that this news comes mere days after Brembo bought Hayes Lemmerz's North American brake-components division. Apparently the price may officially be right.
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]

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Anonymous

7 Years Ago

not entirely untrue,

Tires and surface make the biggest difference, but that being constant, bigger brakes offer more friction surface, which can be modulated easier (better feel). And more disk material and bigger pads can absorb more heat before boiling the fluid (which is the fade you mentioned.)

But brake fade can't be left out of the distance equation. if the brakes fade quickly, you lose your short stopping distance pretty fast. Heat soak can effect your next attempt stop, even if the current one is good.

Modulation isn't entirely out of the equation either. It may be easier to apply fractions of total pressure for feel, and not being just 'on or off', but bigger brakes can take more applied pressure, and apply more angular leverage at the outside of the disk diameter, and combined with more friction area, bigger brakes can apply more deceleration drag at maximum pedal force than smaller brakes. More pressure and contact area also shortens distance over smaller brakes, for the same tires and pavement.

The big drawback to big brakes is weight and space. You have to fit wheels around them, and suspension/driveline through the hubs, and big iron or steel disks are giant inertia generators for both the driveline and the suspension to handle. And bigger wheels and tires to fit over them are more unsprung weight, as well. More and more engine power is required to accelerate the wheels and brakes, as well as the suspended inertia of the car itself. Also more initial braking efficiency is used simply to decelerate the brake and wheel momentum, as well as the car's inertia, as well.

That is why carbon composite and ceramics are coming on the scene. Similar or better friction and heat handling characteristics with the same or less weight and diameter, to fit under normal wheels, and put less strain on suspensions and drivelines. More efficiency left over to slow the car's mass, rather than the brake's own mass.

It will be interesting to see if Brembo goes into more and more OEM roles. I wish my Legacy had the STI's brembo brakes... Some people have fitted them, and say that they are worlds better than the OE subaru disks and calipers, for roughly the same diameter. The oe tires suck, too, but are much easier and common to replace.

Anonymous

Anonymous

7 Years Ago

Damon,

No it isn't. The "B" to which Davidk is referring is a Brembo logo on the back (inside) of the caliper facing the suspension, and is visible in the images of the technical model from the Tokyo show.http://www.1addicts.com/goodiesforyou/008.jpg